Streaking Yankees beat up on Twins

BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- The New York Yankees spent most of
the first half looking for consistency and their attempt at
another second-half surge has begun nicely.

Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano and Derek Jeter each homered as
the Yankees extended their home winning streak to a season-high
eight games with a 12-4 rout of the Minnesota Twins on Monday.

Sidney Ponson (6-1) picked up his second win since joining the
Yankees, allowing three runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings.

The Yankees improved to 4-0 since ending the first half with a
50-45 record and that has propelled them a season-high nine
games over .500 at 54-45. They have also won nine of their last
12 overall since two straight home losses to the Boston Red Sox.

That stretch has helped New York shave 4 1/2 games of their
deficit in the American League East since falling a season-high
nine games out of first place over two weeks ago.

"We need to win games," New York manager Joe Girardi said.
"That's the bottom line because we want to win our division.
We're chasing two teams and you try to keep your heat on and
your distance, so when you play them it means a lot."

Most of those victories have been tight ballgames. The Yankees
have posted five one-run wins, including the last two over
Oakland. This one was the complete opposite for most of the
night as New York never looked back after a four-run second
inning.

"We've been looking to score runs early and hopefully deliver
the knockout blow," Rodriguez said. "That's something we
haven't been able to do."

"It's nice especially since we need to win every game to get
back into the race," added Cano, who is batting .349 (22-for-63)
this month.

While the Yankees cruised to a comfortable win, it was another
loss at Yankee Stadium for the Twins. Minnesota made two errors
in its 17th loss in its last 20 visits and then also had a
bizarre sixth inning involving reliever Craig Breslow, who was
called for a balk on a pickoff attempt and committed a pair of
wild pitches.

Alexei Casilla and rookie Denard Span had three hits apiece for
the Twins, who had 10 hits, stranded eight runners and were
3-for-14 with runners in scoring position. Casilla and Jason
Kubel had RBI singles for Minnesota, which lost for just the
ninth time in 32 games since June 13.

"We got guys in scoring position," Span said. "They just found
a way to get double plays. That's what made it more difficult
for us tonight and to top it that, every inning it seemed like
they were adding on to the lead and it's tough when the
scoreboard is going the opposite way."

Johnny Damon returned from a shoulder injury and drove in two
runs. Jeter and Cano also had two RBI apiece while Rodriguez
knocked in three as the Yankees collected 16 hits and were
5-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

"We've had our lineup five times at most but there's still a lot
of capable people," Girardi said. "Everyone needs to
contribute. Everyone needs to help out. It can't be the same
guys every night. You know that that's not going to happen and
everyone contributed tonight."

Jose Molina also had three hits just hours after catcher Jorge
Posada was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a shoulder
injury.

"It's definitely great when we can go out and score some runs,"
Damon said. "It seems like Cano's just swinging a great bat.
We know what Jeter, Bobby (Abreu) and A-Rod can do, so it was
just a great win."

Two of Rodriguez's RBI were a blast to left-center field that
landed in the Yankees' bullpen. It was Rodriguez's 21st home
run of the season and 539th career.

After the Twins tied it on Casilla's RBI single, the Yankees had
five hits and chased Minnesota rookie starter Nick Blackburn
(7-6) to his earliest exit of the season.

With one out, Melky Cabrera, Molina and rookie Brett Gardner
singled to load the bases. In his first action since crashing
into the left field wall on July 4, Damon hit a grounder to
second baseman Casilla, who attempted to throw Cabrera out at
the plate but his throw short-hopped catcher Joe Mauer for an
error.

Jeter followed with an RBI single and Bobby Abreu had an RBI
groundout for a 6-2 lead.

The Yankees added two more in the third as Cano homered into the
upper deck in right field off reliever Boof Bonser and Damon had
an RBI ground-rule double. They reached double digits in runs
for the first time since July 2 with a three-run sixth as Jeter
hit a solo home run into the right-center field bleachers, Abreu
scored on a wild pitch and Cano lined an RBI single.

Blackburn dropped his second straight start, allowing six runs -
three earned - and seven hits over 1 2/3 innings. It was the
quickest exit by a Twins starter since Francisco Liriano
recorded just two outs at Oakland on April 24.

ALAT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATESOLO HOME RUN BY ROBINSON CANO (8) TO RIGHT WITH 0 OUT IN THE 3RD OFF BOOF BONSER.CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 2, NY YANKEES 7DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: M CABRERA (.247, 1-FOR-1)